A Novel Aluminum‐Ion Battery: Al/AlCl3‐[EMIm]Cl/Ni3S2@Graphene

Due to an ever‐increasing demand for electronic devices, rechargeable batteries are attractive for energy storage systems. A novel rechargeable aluminum‐ion battery based on Al³⁺ intercalation and deintercalation is fabricated with Ni₃S₂/graphene microflakes composite as cathode material and high‐purity Al foil as anode. This kind of aluminum‐ion battery comprises of an electrolyte containing AlCl₃ in an ionic liquid of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIm]Cl). Galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements have been performed in a voltage range of 0.1–2.0 V versus Al/AlCl₄ ^?. An initial discharge specific capacity of 350 mA h g^?1 at a current density of 100 mA g^?1 is achieved, and the discharge capacity remains over 60 mA h g^?1 and coulombic efficiency of 99% after 100 cycles. Typically, for the current density at 200 mA g^?1, the initial charge and discharge capacities are 300 and 235 mA h g^?1, respectively. More importantly, it should be emphasized that the battery has a high discharge voltage plateau (≈1.0 V vs Al/AlCl₄ ^?). These meaningful results represent a significant step forward in the development of aluminum‐ion batteries.     

硅钙钾镁肥对南方稻田土壤酸性和盐基离子动态变化的影响

南方稻田土壤大面积酸化是水稻生产的主要限制因子.尽管石灰作为酸化土壤调理剂已广泛应用,但大量或长期施用石灰不仅会引起土壤板结,而且会导致土壤钙、钾、镁等元素的平衡失调.硅钙钾镁肥由于溶解度更低、养分全面是良好的替代材料.为了明确硅钙钾镁肥阻控土壤酸化的效果和作用,本研究采用连续4年的硅钙钾镁肥田间定位试验,以农民习惯施肥为对照,分析在农民习惯施肥基础上增施750、1125、1500和1875 kg·hm^-2硅钙钾镁肥下稻田土壤pH、交换性酸、交换性盐基离子和有效硅的动态变化.结果表明: 农民习惯施肥导致土壤pH、土壤交换性盐基和盐基饱和度逐年下降,土壤交换性酸逐年增加.与之相反,硅钙钾镁肥处理显著提高了土壤pH值,提高幅度随硅钙钾镁肥施用次数或用量的增加而增大.连续多次施用硅钙钾镁肥有效促进了盐基离子在土壤中的累积和土壤交换酸的消耗,特别是土壤交换性Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺的累积和土壤交换性Al³⁺的消耗,硅钙钾镁肥用量越大,积累或消耗的量越多,但速率相对越慢.土壤交换性酸消耗量中,硅钙钾镁肥释放的交换性盐基离子和相应碱贡献了108.8%,是交换性酸减少的主要途径.硅钙钾镁肥在改良稻田土壤酸性的同时,土壤有效硅含量逐年增加,增幅随硅钙钾镁肥施用量的增加而显著增大.总之,农民习惯施肥导致土壤持续酸化,酸化率为2.86 kmol H⁺·hm^-2·a^-1,硅钙钾镁肥能有效阻控酸化过程,产生了大量碱(9.69~18.44 kmol OH^-·hm^-2·a^-1),释放的Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺盐基离子和相应碱是土壤酸化阻控的主要作用因子.     

Sodium alginate-magnesium aluminum silicate composite gels: Characterization of flow behavior,microviscosity, and drug diffusivity

The aims of the present study were to characterize the flow behavior and thixotropic properties of sodium alginate-magnesium aluminum silicate (SA-MAS) composite gels with various ratios of SA and MAS, and to investigate the drug diffusivity and microviscosity of the composite gels. Moreover, interaction of SA and MAS in the form of dry composite was examined by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and a possible structure model of SA-MAS composite gel was illustrated. Incorporating MAS into the SA gels provided higher viscosity and changed the flow behavior from Newtonian to pseudoplastic with thixotropy. This was due to the formation of electrostatic force and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between SA and MAS, leading to a denser matrix structure of the composite gels. Increasing the content of MAS decreased the drug diffusivity but increased the microviscosity of the composite gels. The denser matrix structure of the composite gels had a higher tortuosity, resulting in slower drug diffusion through water-filled channels in the gels. This finding suggested that incorporating MAS into the SA gels could improve the flow behavior and sustain drug release from the gels because of the formation of a matrix structure between SA and MAS in the gels. Published: September 7, 2007     

A Portable and Efficient Solar‐Rechargeable Battery with Ultrafast Photo‐Charge/Discharge Rate

The solar‐rechargeable electric energy storage systems (SEESSs), which can simultaneously harvest and store solar energy, are considered a promising next‐generation renewable energy supply system. However, the difficulty in meeting the demands of higher overall photoelectric conversion and storage efficiency (PCSE) with both high power density and large energy density in the current SEESSs severely limit their practical application. Herein, a new class is demonstrated of portable and highly efficient SEESS that uniquely integrates a perovskite solar module (PSM) and an aluminum‐ion battery (AIB) directly on a bifunctional aluminum electrode without any external circuit. Such nanostructural design in the SEESS not only exhibits fast photo‐charge/discharge rate (less than one minute) with high power density (above 5000 W kg^?1), but also delivers a high energy density (above 43 Wh kg^?1). By rationally matching the maximum power point voltage of PSM with AIB charging voltage, an excellent solar‐charging efficiency of 15.2% and a high PCSE of 12.04% are achieved, which is among the best in all reported portable SEESSs. Moreover, enhanced PCSE is observed as the light intensity decreases, which makes such SEESS immune from the geographical location and climate limitations for diverse practical applications.     

Self‐Supported Tin Sulfide Porous Films for Flexible Aluminum‐Ion Batteries

High‐performance flexible batteries are promising energy storage devices for portable and wearable electronics. Currently, the major obstacle to develop flexible batteries is the shortage of flexible electrodes with excellent electrochemical performance. Another challenge is the limited progress in the flexible batteries beyond Li‐ion because of a safety concern for the Li‐based electrochemical system. In this work, a self‐supported tin sulfide (SnS) porous film (PF) is fabricated as a flexible cathode material in an Al‐ion battery, which delivers a high specific capacity of 406 mAh g^?1. A capacity decay rate of 0.03% per cycle is achieved, indicating a good stability. The self‐supported and flexible SnS film also shows an outstanding electrochemical performance and stability during dynamic and static bending tests. In situ transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that the porous structure of SnS is beneficial for minimizing the volume expansion during charge/discharge. This leads to an improved structural stability and superior long‐term cyclability.     

Risk Assessment as a Decision-Making Tool for Treatment of Emissions at a New Aluminum Smelter in Iceland: 2. Human Health Risk Assessment

Alcoa recently constructed the Fjarðaál aluminum smelter in Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland. The smelter is designed to produce a maximum of 346,000 metric tons per year of aluminum. A risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the differential human health risk related to estimated potential air emissions from the planned Fjarðaál smelter with and without seawater scrubbers. Air-dispersion modeling results provided for particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were compared to ambient air standards or air quality guidelines from Norway, Iceland, or European directives and from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Risk estimates were calculated for PAHs. Modeled air estimates were mapped geospatially, to identify potential receptors, including onsite outdoor worker, seagoing worker, hypothetical fence-line resident, future hypothetical resident, closest current resident, residents in neighboring villages, closest farmer, and a visitor to the nearby Holmanes Nature Reserve. Both with and without seawater scrubbers, the predicted exceedances of standards per year for SO₂ were well below the maximum number allowed. Use of seawater scrubbers was predicted to decrease average SO₂ air concentration estimates in the short term; however, annual estimates were lower without seawater scrubbers. Risk estimates for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic PAHs, and modeled air concentrations of HF and PM₁₀, were well within acceptable levels.     

Polymer–Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Composite Dispersions for Improved Physical Stability of Acetaminophen Suspensions

The aims of this study were to characterize the morphology and size of flocculates and the zeta potential and rheological properties of polymer–magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) composite dispersions and to investigate the physical properties of acetaminophen (ACT) suspensions prepared using the composite dispersions as a flocculating/suspending agent. The polymers used were sodium alginate (SA), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), and methylcellulose (MC). The results showed that SA, SCMC, and MC could induce flocculation of MAS by a polymer-bridging mechanism, leading to the changes in the zeta potential of MAS and the flow properties of the polymer dispersions. The microscopic morphology and size of the flocculates was dependent on the molecular structure of the polymer, especially ether groups on the polymer side chain. The residual MAS from the flocculation could create a three-dimensional structure in the SA–MAS and SCMC–MAS dispersions, which brought about not only an enhancement of viscosity and thixotropic properties but also an improvement in the ACT flocculating efficiency of polymers. The use of polymer–MAS dispersions provided a higher degree of flocculation and a lower redispersibility value of ACT suspensions compared with the pure polymer dispersions. This led to a low tendency for caking of the suspensions. The SCMC–MAS dispersions provided the highest ACT flocculating efficiency, whereas the lowest ACT flocculating efficiency was found in the MC–MAS dispersions. Moreover, the added MAS did not affect ACT dissolution from the suspensions in an acidic medium. These findings suggest that the polymer–MAS dispersions show good potential for use as a flocculating/suspending agent for improving the rheological properties and physical stability of the suspensions.     

Engineering greater aluminium resistance in wheat by over-expressing TaALMT1

MethodsParticle bombardment was used to transform wheat with TaALMT1, the Al³⁺ resistance gene from wheat, using the maize ubiquitin promoter to drive expression. TaALMT1 expression, malate efflux and Al³⁺ resistance were measured in the T₁ and T₂ lines and compared with the parental line and an Al³⁺-resistant reference genotype, ET8.ConclusionsThe Al³⁺ resistance of wheat was increased by enhancing TaALMT1 expression with biotechnology. This is the first report of a major food crop being stably transformed for greater Al³⁺ resistance. Transgenic strategies provide options for increasing food supply on acid soils.